Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-10
WHAT VoUDOo WORSHIP IS.
The Specification of the Word "Noudoc."
Worship in HaNti-Jemples.

The Specification of the Word "Noudoo."
Worship in Hayti-Temples.
Sir Spenser st. John gives a very
spirited description of Voudoo worship in
Hayti. According To the true secretaries
Of the Noudoo3," he says who maintain
its principle and obey its rules, 'NoudOo'
signifies an all powerful and supernatural
being on whom depend all the events
which take place in the world. This
being is the non-vcnumoUS serpcnt-one
so common IN Hayti-and it is under its
auspices that all those assemble who pro
fess this doctrine. Acquaintance with
the past knowledge of the present, pre-
science of the future, all aprertain to this
serpent, that only consents, however. to
communicate his power and prescribe his
will through the organ of grand priest.
whom The secretaries elect, end still more
by that of the negresS, whom the love of
the latter had raised to the rank of high
priestesS. These TWO delegates, who de
clare themselves inspired by their god or
in whom the gift of inspiration is really
manifested, i'll the opinion of their fol
lowers. bear the pompous name of king
and queen. or the despotic one OF mas
ter and mistress. or the touching titles
of papa and mamma They are dur
ing their whole lives the chiefs Of the
great family vt the NGudocS, aud they
have a right to the unlimited respect of
those who compose Il. tits they who de
eide ii the serpent agrees tn admit can
didate into the society. who prescribe the
obligations and the duties he has te full
fiji, it is they who receive the gifts and
presents which the gods expects as Il Just
homage to him.
To disobey them to resist them. is to
dis0hey God himself and expose ones self
to the greatest misfortunes. This system
of domination on the one hand and of
blind obedience on the other being well
established, they at fixed dates meet to
seyher and the king and queen of the
Noudoo preside, following the forms
which were probably brought from Africa
and TO which Creole customs have added
many variations and some traits which
betruy European ideas, "a. for instance
the scarf or rich belt which the queen
wear, &f these assemblies. and which she
occasionally varies
As for the practice of Noudoo worship,
it is well 10 say that Of the vOtarics in
nay u NAtit Sttlll 10 ft lNt tltSNtS-
those who worship the serpent and offer
animal sacrifice to appesse his wrath or
court his favor, and these who kill human
beings and not only offer them as sacri-
fees, but eat their flesh. OF the former
fully - per cent. of the inhabitants of
Hayti are alleged To he given over to that
kind Of Noudooism 10 "a certain extent; of
| the latter sufficient has been told. The
temples of theNoudoo are generally small,
unpTetentiuuS wooden buildings-called
by the natives HumfOrt-and are scat
tered generally throughout the interior of
Hayti. Some Of them are most incon-
gruous in their interior decorations. and
one situated a little distance back of
Heaux du Cap YVES profuseiy decorated
with illutratious from colored weekly
pamphlets, interspersed with gaudy
chronicle pictures Of various saints
New York World.